TY - JOUR
T1 - Immunizing the immune
T2 - Can we overcome influenza’s most formidable challenge?
AU - Ellebedy, Ali H.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 by the author. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
PY - 2018/12
Y1 - 2018/12
N2 - The first human influenza virus was isolated more than 85 years ago, and several vaccine candidates were developed and tested soon after. Yet, controlling infections mediated by this respiratory pathogen continues to present a formidable challenge. Development of an effective influenza vaccine has been undermined by the dynamic nature of influenza viruses: these viruses have the unique capacity to escape pre-existing immunity. In this perspective, I highlight pre-existing immunity as a different, but related, hurdle that may actually lessen the effectiveness of influenza vaccine-induced immune responses. Specifically, I discuss the impact of pre-existing immunity on the generation of de novo B cell responses to influenza vaccination. As the influenza virus changes its major antigenic determinants, it creates new ones in the process. Our immune system adapts by targeting the new determinants. However, pre-existing antibodies and memory B cells interfere with the generation of de novo responses against these newly formed epitopes, rendering vaccines less effective. Overcoming such interference is essential for the development of more effective influenza vaccines.
AB - The first human influenza virus was isolated more than 85 years ago, and several vaccine candidates were developed and tested soon after. Yet, controlling infections mediated by this respiratory pathogen continues to present a formidable challenge. Development of an effective influenza vaccine has been undermined by the dynamic nature of influenza viruses: these viruses have the unique capacity to escape pre-existing immunity. In this perspective, I highlight pre-existing immunity as a different, but related, hurdle that may actually lessen the effectiveness of influenza vaccine-induced immune responses. Specifically, I discuss the impact of pre-existing immunity on the generation of de novo B cell responses to influenza vaccination. As the influenza virus changes its major antigenic determinants, it creates new ones in the process. Our immune system adapts by targeting the new determinants. However, pre-existing antibodies and memory B cells interfere with the generation of de novo responses against these newly formed epitopes, rendering vaccines less effective. Overcoming such interference is essential for the development of more effective influenza vaccines.
KW - B cell responses
KW - Influenza
KW - Pre-existing immunity
KW - Protection threshold
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85055419804&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/vaccines6040068
DO - 10.3390/vaccines6040068
M3 - Article
C2 - 30248996
AN - SCOPUS:85055419804
SN - 2076-393X
VL - 6
JO - Vaccines
JF - Vaccines
IS - 4
M1 - 68
ER -